Chapter 34: The Blue Dragon

Lu Ming struggled arduously toward the altar. He realized that no matter how much his physique and cultivation improved, every step in this place was as difficult as before. Lu Ming suspected that even if he reached the Dragon Emperor realm, he would still be like this here. The Dragon God Altar and this ancient dragon were simply too mysterious and powerful.

Finally crawling to the altar, Lu Ming immediately began the offering. This time, the scroll received a considerable amount of divine grace. After redeeming a Body Tempering Pill, there was still plenty left. Lu Ming browsed through the wondrous items displayed on the light screen. Suddenly, he saw an egg.

“Water-attribute dragon egg, grants a young dragon.”

“My god, they even have this?” Lu Ming’s jaw dropped in astonishment. It was a dragon egg—having a dragon, how incredibly cool would that be?

Lu Ming immediately fantasized: while others walked their dogs or cats, he’d be leading a dragon. How spectacular would that be!

“Hahaha, I want it!” Seeing the exchange button shining, Lu Ming pressed it without hesitation.

The water-blue dragon egg, about the size of a soccer ball, floated to his side. The divine grace in the hourglass poured out in a rush, leaving not a single drop behind.

Lu Ming looked at the empty hourglass with some heartache. Originally, he’d planned to redeem a set of construct components, but in his excitement, that plan was now ruined.

“That cunning old thing,” Lu Ming cursed inwardly, leaving the altar.

He noticed that every time he received divine grace through the offering, it would be spent to the last drop. The old dragon’s list always featured strange and enticing items, luring him to make more exchanges. It was like a black hole, never filled; he would always want to keep offering, to gain better things—a true bottomless pit.

Back in his bedroom, Lu Ming gazed lovingly at the dragon egg in his hands. The entire egg was water-blue, adorned with ancient blue inscriptions radiating a soft, blue glow. Just looking at it was deeply pleasing.

“Old fellow, even your own offspring are up for sale—well, I won’t be polite then.” Lu Ming smiled, bit his thumb, and dripped a few drops of blood onto the egg.

The blood was immediately absorbed.

Moments later, with a crack, the dragon egg split open.

Lu Ming placed the egg on the ground and watched closely. The cracks multiplied, and soon the egg shattered completely, revealing a furry creature crawling out.

The little thing had the form of a dragon, entirely blue, with even its blood visible beneath the skin as blue. Its eyes were tightly shut as it sniffed around, found the broken shell, and began munching it down.

Before long, the shell was gone.

Then, the young dragon began to change. Its formerly translucent body quickly grew blue scales, covering its whole body and five dragon claws. Two horns emerged, already looking fierce.

Now fully resembling a dragon, the hatchling opened its eyes and glanced around before spotting Lu Ming. Its five short legs scampered over, sniffed at Lu Ming’s leg, squeaked twice, then leaped onto his shoulder and settled down comfortably.

At that moment, Lu Ming and the young dragon formed a spiritual bond. He could sense its thoughts. Stroking the little dragon, he found its scales already hard and emitting a faint dragon’s aura. Lu Ming could feel that the tiny creatures in the room had all vanished without a trace.

“No wonder it’s a top-tier ancient creature—just born, and it already has the presence of a superior being,” Lu Ming praised.

The young dragon, nestled on Lu Ming’s shoulder, slept peacefully as if in its parent’s embrace.

After a while, Lu Ming sighed, gently lifted the sleeping dragon from his shoulder, placed it in a paper bag, went downstairs, and drove to the banks of the Wei River.

Getting out, he found a secluded spot, took out the young dragon, and said to it, “I know you yearn for the ocean—go ahead.”

Reluctantly, Lu Ming released the dragon into the Wei River.

The Wei River is a tributary of the Yellow River—following its course, it leads to the Yellow Sea and then to the ocean.

Lu Ming sensed the young dragon’s longing for the sea from its soul. Besides, keeping such an astonishing little creature nearby would only invite trouble. Though Lu Ming feared no trouble, he preferred not to draw attention—he carried too many secrets and, if possible, would rather keep a low profile. Who knows who else exists in this world?

Even legendary beings like dragons had appeared; now Lu Ming felt he could accept anything this world threw at him.

The hatchling paddled in the water for a while, poked its head out, and looked at Lu Ming with reluctance.

Lu Ming smiled, “I’ll give you a name—from now on, you’ll be Blue Dragon. Remember, don’t let yourself be discovered. You’re still weak, so grow quickly. Once you’re strong, you’ll fear nothing. Go on.”

After a few words of advice, Blue Dragon nodded to Lu Ming, then disappeared beneath the water, unwilling to part.

Watching Blue Dragon vanish, Lu Ming drove home. Though still small, creatures like Blue Dragon—ancient, top-tier beings—should have no natural enemies, so Lu Ming felt at ease letting it go to the sea.

At that moment, Blue Dragon sped through the depths of the Wei River, heading for the ocean. Fish, shrimp, turtles, and other creatures all fled its path.

Though small, Blue Dragon carried a natural dragon’s aura, an innate rank suppression; every creature nearby, even if temporarily stronger, could only flee in its presence.

Lu Ming returned to his grocery shop, sensing Blue Dragon’s majestic presence in the water with his soul, and a genuine smile spread across his face.

Feeling there was no danger, Lu Ming went upstairs, swallowed the Body Tempering Pill, and soon drifted into a deep sleep.

He slept until the next morning.

Severe hunger woke him from his slumber. After quickly washing his face, Lu Ming went out for breakfast.

“What the hell, why aren’t they open?” Seeing his usual breakfast spot closed, Lu Ming shook his head in annoyance and headed further out.

The next breakfast shop was a distance away. Enduring his hunger, Lu Ming hurried through the streets.

After walking for over ten minutes, he finally reached a breakfast shop. Just as he was about to rush in, he saw several men in security uniforms dragging a disabled man toward a business vehicle.

The disabled man struggled desperately, but he had only a left hand and a crippled right leg.

Lu Ming sighed and headed toward the breakfast shop. Every day, there were far too many such incidents for him to intervene.

“Let me go!” The disabled man’s angry cry rang out after his failed struggle.

At the sound, Lu Ming felt as if struck by lightning. He quickly turned, strode over in two steps, and asked urgently, “Are you Chen Bing?”

The disabled man looked at Lu Ming and immediately exclaimed excitedly, “Boss!”

“Is it really you?” Lu Ming finally recognized that the disheveled, disabled man was his former subordinate and sworn brother, Chen Bing.

After the Great Dragon Battle years ago, Chen Bing had lost an arm and crippled a leg. Lu Ming had given him compensation and sent him home.

He never expected to meet again, and in such circumstances.

Now recognizing his brother, Lu Ming saw the security guards still pushing Chen Bing. Without a word, he launched a kick, sending one flying.

A few more kicks sent the rest sprawling. Lu Ming said coldly, “Damn it, you dare lay hands on my brother?”

Lu Ming could ignore most people, but if it involved his own brothers, he would never allow them to be bullied.

As a mercenary, he was notorious for protecting his own. If his men got into conflicts with other mercenaries or special forces, regardless of who was right, Lu Ming would always deal with the other side first.

If a fight was imminent, Lu Ming would waste no time—he’d grab his brothers and get ready to brawl. Thanks to this attitude, he quickly gathered many loyal subordinates.

Seeing his brother bullied, Lu Ming could no longer restrain himself.

The security guards struggled to their feet, realizing they weren’t a match for Lu Ming, and retreated by the vehicle, pointing at him angrily.

“Kid, you dare hit someone from Panther Corp? Are you looking for trouble?”

Lu Ming sneered, “Yeah, come try and kill me.”

“Damn it, just wait till our boss comes.”

“I’ll wait right here in this breakfast shop. If your boss doesn’t come, he’s my son,” Lu Ming replied, ignoring them as he helped Chen Bing inside.

“Hungry? Eat first,” Lu Ming said, ordering a big spread.

After placing the order, Lu Ming asked, “Chen Bing, I remember when I disbanded the team, I gave you enough compensation to ensure your family would live comfortably for life. How did you end up like this?”

Chen Bing wiped tears from his eyes with his one good hand.

He hadn’t spoken yet, but Lu Ming already felt a surge of anger.

Back in the day, Chen Bing had been a true iron man, following Lu Ming through life and death, never knowing fear. What could have happened to make such a man so downtrodden, so aggrieved that he wept?

Set a small goal first—like remembering the mobile reading site in one second.